Karen Carpenter

Her voice is so distinct and pure. A shame that shes remembered equally for her voice to her death from annorexia. Was a great loss. Her voice had something naturally lush and plain about it. Its interesting to see how, since her death in the early 80s, shes morphed into different things. There's always the annorexia angle but theres also: her as easy, safe pop, a backlash to the political corruption and sex, drugs and rock and roll scene of the late 60s and 70s; that her voice and her sound was emblematic of the 70s pop and easy listening, paving the way for Adult Contemporary; moving into the 80s, she was taken up as an icon (see Todd Haynes' short movie bout her, "Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story") and as a public health figure (more public awareness about annorexia); to a darling of the indie scene in the mid 90s (like The Carpenters tribute album featuring Sonic Youth, Shonen Knife, etc). When India Arie was doing press for her first album a few years ago, she cited Karen as one of her inspirations, that listening to Karens voice brought her closer to God. Ive also heard a few people (one in Todd Haynes' movie and a couple of people in real life) say that "Rainy Days and Mondays" is so ironic and subversive. Like I said, I cant define irony and who knows whats really subversive? All I know is that I really dig her voice. Yesterday, I took the long way home, crossed the Granville Street Bridge, listening to Karen Carpenter.